Story Overview

The story takes up where Amelias Secrets left off; after the murder trial held in Jacksonville, Florida where the accused, great-great-grandson of President Thomas Jefferson, T. J. Eppes, murderer of one of his best friends and father of six children, walks out of the courtroom a free man. He returns to Amelia Island there to carry on life as usual with his beautiful young bride Katie, expecting their first child, only to find life for her to be a daily trial by a jury of her peers; an impossible situation in the end.

Characters and Setting

Our protagonist John Whitner describes in detail not only their lives culminating in the great hurricane of 1898, which nearly devastates the island but through the lives of the Carnegies of Cumberland Island, Mrs. Leddy owner and operator of the Florida House Hotel and her only child Grace from age eight through her progression to adulthood, marriage, babies and widowhood at the young age of twenty one.

John Whitner's Journey

John, himself reveals his journey through all this, his relationship with Pauline; its ups and downs, a new woman in his life (or women) as well as his passion for photography in the many places he visits, Jekyl Island, Charleston, S. C. during the earthquake of 1886 and Chicago's World's Fair of 1893.

Research and Narrative Style

Meticulous research and beautiful descriptions bring nineteenth century Amelia Island to life. With creative flair, Ms. Carter-de Vries uses the first person narrative of her storyteller, John Whitner, to recreate the turbulence of natural disasters and society's mores and make the past inhabitants of Amelia Island walk off the pages.

Audience and Author

Whether you're a visitor to the island or a life-long resident, you will find much to enjoy in Carter-de Vries Golden Years, Silver Tears.

Karen White

New York Times bestselling author

THE TIME BETWEEN, NAL/Penguin Publishing Group June 2013